STV to cut 60 jobs and end Aberdeen news program amid £2.5m savings plan

STV on Wednesday disclosed a plan to cut about 60 jobs as part of a £2.5 million savings drive aimed at stabilizing the broadcaster's finances after a £200,000 loss in the first half of 2025. The plan also calls for ending the separate north of Scotland news programme and replacing it with a single main evening news broadcast.

Under the proposal, Aberdeen and other local bulletins would be replaced by a unified schedule, a move designed to consolidate news production and reduce costs. The broadcaster said the changes would affect staffing across the business, with a significant share of the reductions expected in news production. The proposal would require Ofcom approval for the Aberdeen news changes, and the Scottish Government said it would make a formal submission to Ofcom opposing the cuts. MSPs from across Holyrood condemned the move as a risk to local journalism. The First Minister’s office stressed that local journalism is essential for public policy scrutiny, and officials would engage with STV, Ofcom and the unions to raise concerns and offer support to those affected.

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Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden warned that the changes could reduce coverage for rural communities in the north and north-east and urged a reconsideration. The government’s response reiterated concern about local access to news and noted that the Aberdeen service might cease, depending on regulatory and market factors. Officials said they would push for a solution that preserves local accountability while balancing financial realities.

Labour MSP Neil Bibby highlighted that Ofcom approval is a prerequisite for the Aberdeen closure and asked for formal representations to regulator. The government signaled that Ofcom would be part of the discussion and that the Culture Secretary would lead the representations alongside STV.

STV chief executive Rufus Radcliffe said the broadcaster would navigate the challenging trading environment and implement its FastFwd strategy to deliver sustainable value to shareholders. He acknowledged that the savings plan would affect colleagues across the business and stressed ongoing support for staff through the transition. He noted the launch of STV Radio is on track, viewing on the STV Player is at an all-time high, and Army Of Shadows has been commissioned by Channel 4 from Two Cities as part of broader growth initiatives.

Industry voices weighed in as well. Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton urged that trusted local journalism remain a cornerstone of accountability, especially during an election year. The National Union of Journalists in Scotland said while financial pressures are acknowledged, the proposed cuts threaten the quality and reach of STV News across Scotland.

Background context reinforces the stakes. STV acquired Grampian Television in 1997, consolidating local news provision in the north of Scotland that had originated in 1961. The Aberdeen programme changes require regulatory approval, and the government has signaled it will use its representations to Ofcom to press for safeguards for local coverage and for the communities most affected. The timing and outcome of Ofcom’s review remain unresolved as STV presses ahead with its savings plan, seeking to balance a leaner cost base with the demands of local democracy and audience needs.